Wales’s first National Conference for Outdoor Performance
The Great Outdoors is a unique networking event presented by Articulture Wales with support and input from Arts Council Wales, Independent Street Arts Network, National Theatre Wales, Walk The Plank, Citrus Arts, Emergency Exit Arts, and NoFitState Circus, Small World Theatre and South Wales Intercultural Community Arts (SWICA).
It aims to bring together outdoor art practitioners, funders, festivals and venues to share ideas, access funding and forge collaborations to create new works here in Wales. This includes street theatre, carnival, procession, puppetry, circus and arts installation The Great Outdoors is in two parts: the main focus is a one-day Conference with inspirational speakers and sharing of resources, ideas and best practice. This will be followed by an Outdoor Adventure – an additional optional event the following morning where we explore three potential new performance sites, which we aim to feature as a proposed follow-up event in May 2013!
The Great Outdoors 2012
Conference: Fri 12th October, 9.45am – 5pm, Y Plas, Machynlleth, Powys
Outdoor Adventure: Sat 13th October, 9.30am – 2pm, Various sites, Dyfi Valley, Powys
Increasing opportunity for generation and support of innovation, collaboration and production of unique outdoor spectacles in Wales.
There is an extensive database of Welsh outdoor arts practitioners, many of whom work in the UK and internationally. There is also arts funding dedicated to the form. It’s clear that while we have all the ingredients to deliver outdoor arts in Wales, the geographical challenges of our rural landscape mean that opportunities for combined arts events to develop can be restricted due to lack of support structure and complex logistics.
The Great Outdoors is a platform created by Articulture and its supporting arts practitioners to address this. It aims to explore constructive and innovative ways to increase and raise the standard of the provision and aspirations of the outdoor arts in Wales, drawing inspiration from its language, heritage, culture and landscape.
Programme
The Great Outdoors Conference speakers confirmed so far: John McGrath, Director, National Theatre Wales; Orit Azaz, Independent Creative Director including NofitState Circus; Debbie Mullins, Director, Emergency Exit Arts; Elen Ap Robert, Artistic Director, Arts and Innovation Centre, Pontio; Hugh Edwin Jones, Events Officer, Gwynedd Council; Bridie Doyle, Citrus Arts, Newport and representatives from Arts Council of Wales.
The Great Outdoors Adventure leaders on the Saturday will be Articulture Directors Annie Grundy and Julie Ann Heskin.
Booking
The Great Outdoors 2012 is a not-for-profit event, and delegates are asked to pay a fee towards the costs. The event is subsidised by the Arts Council of Wales. The costs to delegates will be as follows:
Conference: Organisations: £80, Individual practitioners: £40, Students/Concessions: £25
Includes morning coffee and lunchtime meal. (Evening pizza and pub gathering optional)
Outdoor Adventure: Organisations: £20, Individual practitioners: £15, Students: £10
Includes transport and picnic lunch.
Book your tickets here: http://www.tickettailor.com/all-tickets/944/caa9/
Getting there
The Great Outdoors is based at Y Plas, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 8ER.
By car share:
Visit www.freewheelers.co.uk/The_Great_Outdoors_2012 to share a lift
By tr
ain: Y Plas is a 5 minute walk from Machynlleth train station.
The town is on the Birmingham-to-Aberystwyth train line served by Arriva Wales trains.
By bus: Visit www.traveline-cymru.info for information on buses across Wales.
Affordable accommodation
We recommend: www.wynnstay-hotel.com (£45 - £85 for room), The White Lion Hotel
(£45-£70) 01654 703455, www.reditreks.com (£12.50 – £17 for bunk, £5 camping), Dyfi Chalets (£150 per weekend for 4 www.dyfichalets.co.uk), Smuggler’s Cove Cottages for groups www.smugglerscove.info, or have a look at www.stayinwales.co.uk
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